Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[What the Nintendo DSi, PSP 3000, and iPhone mean for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/what-the-nintendo-dsi-psp-3000-and-iphone-mean-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/what-the-nintendo-dsi-psp-3000-and-iphone-mean-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/what-the-nintendo-dsi-psp-3000-and-iphone-mean-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Last night, on the other side of the world, Nintendo announced its intention to step up the battle between Sony and Apple for the soul of the handheld gamer. We talk semi-regularly on Massively about the hardcore console battle, with games like Age of Conan and Champions Online heading for the 360 and SOE's stable of new titles (DCUO, The Agency, Free Realms) heading for the PlayStation 3. The handheld battle hardly ever gets discussed here on the site, though, and that's a shame. The modern ubiquity of handheld gaming is really the future of 'console' gaming, and with all three handheld platforms featuring built-in internet connectivity the age of "MMOs on the go" is inevitable.

Join us as we walk through each of the three handheld platforms, discussing what their potential is for playing MMOs and what we currently know about MMO plans for the platform. Even though they're pretty quiet, there are more than you think. Who knows, perhaps the WoW nation of today will be tapping out messages to each other on their DS handhelds five years from now?

Gallery: What the Handheld War means for MMOs

MMObile PotentialNintendo DSiThe 'mini' Massively Multiplayer Online GameFuture social MMOs find their homeCrafter's Paradise

MassivelyWhat the Nintendo DSi, PSP 3000, and iPhone mean for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple-iphoneconsole-gamingdsdsifeaturediphonejoystiqfeaturesmmosmobilemobile-gamingnintendo-dsnintendo-dsipsppsp-3000Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE has portable MMO plans for the PSP: Free Realms tie-ins first, full games later]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/soe-has-portable-mmo-plans-for-the-psp-free-realms-tie-ins-firs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/soe-has-portable-mmo-plans-for-the-psp-free-realms-tie-ins-firs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/soe-has-portable-mmo-plans-for-the-psp-free-realms-tie-ins-firs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


SOE is considering investing time and money in developing MMOs for the PlayStation Portable gaming system, according to MTV's Multiplayer blog. SOE president John Smedley said that his company began to think about working on the platform after it was moved under the Sony Computer Entertainment America leg of the Sony corporation.

Smedley suggested that we will eventually "see full MMOs that are designed for the PSP." Unfortunately, he said that's not on the immediate agenda, and that limited functionality related to PC and PS3 releases -- such as managing one's pets in Free Realms -- will likely come first. In a different interview, Smedley talked about broadening the appeal of MMOs by going after console users. Portable consoles seem the next logical step, right?

In that same interview he promised that more EverQuest games are coming. This is wild speculation, but imagine an EverQuest spin-off for the PSP. Is that something we'd want to play? As cool as EverQuest Portable might be, there are reasons to doubt Smedley's plan. Unlike say, an iPhone, The PSP only has internet connectivity when it's near a Wi-Fi hotspot. How often are you really near one of those when playing your PSP? Isn't most of your time with the device spent on the train or someplace transient like that?

MassivelySOE has portable MMO plans for the PSP: Free Realms tie-ins first, full games later originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>everquestfree-realmshandheldinterviewjohn-smedleymobileplaystation-portableportablepspsceasoesonysony-computer-entertainment-americasony-online-entertainmentMon, 29 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion nabs SCEA vet for VP of Engineering]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/trion-nabs-scea-vet-for-vp-of-engineering/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/trion-nabs-scea-vet-for-vp-of-engineering/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/trion-nabs-scea-vet-for-vp-of-engineering/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Three weeks since we first heard the news about Trion World Network's deal with the Sci-Fi channel, and it seemed like information about the burgeoning MMO innovator was starting to cool off. They've resurfaced on our radar this week with news that they have hired Glen Van Datta (not Van Detta, sorry), former Director of Technology at SCEA, as their Vice President of Engineering and General Manager. His past projects include developing the online technologies behind the PSP, PS2, and PS3.

The task facing Van Datta is anything but insignificant. As you might recall, they came out swinging with some ambitious plans for establishing a new distribution platform that circumvents tradition retail avenues and makes better use of the online sphere. Van Datta's connections within Sony should also be a significant asset, as Trion has been fairly upfront with their plans to bring a title to the Playstation 3, among other consoles.

MassivelyTrion nabs SCEA vet for VP of Engineering originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>glen-van-dattaps2ps3pspsceatriontrion-world-networkvice-president-of-engineeringMon, 23 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There was a time in my MMO playing when I would spend hours looking for a group in games like Final Fantasy XI. No television was watched and no handheld gaming devices were manipulated during those prolonged waiting periods. I just sat there chatting with whomever I could in-game. Today, I don't think I could see myself doing this even with the aid of a Nintendo DS or a PSP with which to chip away the hours. Hell, I probably couldn't even do this with one of my favorite shows like Lucky Louie or Flight of the Concords.

This is why it warms my heart to know that Champions Online will contain not only solo content across every level, but some kind of secret endgame feature called the Omega System. My first reaction upon this revelation was simply, "Wow" I certainly hope that with a title like "The Omega System" Cryptic has a compelling endgame feature planned that will amaze everyone or at the very least please everyone.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdefenderendgamefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xiflight-of-the-concordsironcladjoystiqfeaturesjusticiarlucky-louienintendo-dsomega-systempspsolosoloingsquare-enixthe-digital-continuumSat, 07 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Phantasy Star Universe set for PSP, but with nerfed multiplayer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/phantasy-star-universe-set-for-psp-but-with-nerfed-multiplayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/phantasy-star-universe-set-for-psp-but-with-nerfed-multiplayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/phantasy-star-universe-set-for-psp-but-with-nerfed-multiplayer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It was so exciting at first to read that Phantasy Star Universe is headed for the PSP. Developers have theorized before that a PSP MMO might be worth trying, and PSU is the perfect candidate because of its small-scale group battles and its pick-up-and-play approach. At first, it looked like this would finally be the big break!

Or not! Sega has announced a Japanese PSU port for the PSP, but its multiplayer features are only ad hoc -- meaning it works over a local wi-fi connection between PSPs, not over the internet. So they've taken PSU, stripped out the "Massively" and "Online" parts of "MMO," and ported it to the PSP.

Bad form, Sega -- bad form. Looks like we'll be waiting a bit longer for an MMO-on-the-go that isn't a cell phone game meant for 'tweens. Maybe NCsoft is PSP MMO fans' only hope.

MassivelyPhantasy Star Universe set for PSP, but with nerfed multiplayer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-hocconsoleshandheldjapanphantasy-starphantasy-star-universeplaystationplaystation-portableportablepsppsusegawirelessFri, 07 Dec 2007 17:30:00 EST